With the change of the seasons, I’m excited to be a part of another fresh start: taking on the position of chair of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Board of Directors. ASID has played a large role in my life and world as a design professional, and I’m honored to continue the work of former chair Charrisse Johnston, ASID, LEED AP BD+C, Associate AIA, to further the ASID mission of “Design Impacts Lives.”
For many outside the industry (and even sometimes for us), it can be hard to truly grasp this concept of the way design and its impact directly intersect with the people for whom we design. ASID has invested in this mission through research that challenges us all to examine how we can be better stewards of design and prove this strategic initiative to our clients. We’re also living it with our new national headquarters in Washington, D.C. One year in, this dynamic space is still impacting and affecting our ASID staff on a daily basis. We’re compiling research of the space, its peaks and valleys, and are excited to soon share the results with you to clearly demonstrate how the design of our national headquarters impacts the daily lives of our staff: Design Impacts Lives.
ASID also just wrapped up its first edition of “Platform: A Retreat for Design Visionaries.” With speakers from a diverse range of companies such as Wired magazine, it’s further proof that this mission rings true. When tech journalists, physicians, and “intrepreneurs” want to be a part of the conversation with design firm leaders, you know you’re onto something. Most importantly, however, that means we’re able to further engage an outside perspective on design that will inspire us to inject a greater human element into our own work.
We’re extremely fortunate to have partners like interiors+sources and the fantastic brands you see throughout the pages of this magazine on board with our mission of Design Impacts Lives. Companies’ renewed focus on how humans interact with their materials and products; how they affect our health, wellness, and energy; and how they can help people connect to one another makes our jobs easier and more enjoyable with so many fantastic options to choose from. In addition, student programs such as SCALE: The ASID Student Summit also ensure that our next generation of designers will recognize and engage how Design Impacts Lives from day one.
I look forward to continuing this journey with you and demonstrating how Design Impacts Lives.
Tim Schelfe, FASID, CID, CAPS, is the 2017-18 chair of the American Society of Interior Designers Board of Directors. He is also a managing partner, co-owner, and director of interior design for JDavis, a multidisciplinary design firm serving the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. Learn more about ASID at ASID.org.
